Electrical conductor and anode.



'No. 689,877. Patented'Dec. 3|, [90L L. HARGREAVES &. W. STUBBS.

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR AND ANODE.

(Application filed June 17, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheat l..

:fnvenl'ar Va/ a a? Jig-1 (No Model.)

No. 689,877. Patented Dec. 3|, [90L L. HARGREAVES &. W. STUBBS.

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR AND AN-ODE.

(Application filed June 17, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 shee ts sheet 2.

m2 mmms Puma co. PHQTO-LITHDn WASHINGTON. n c.

llNiTnn STATES PATENT @FFICE.

LUKE HARGREAVES AND WVILLIAM STUBBS, OF FARNIVORTII IN \VIDNES,

ENGLAND.

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR AND ANODE.

'SPECIFLCATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,877, datedDecember 1901- Application filed June 17, 1899. Serial No. 720,891. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern; erwise, along the anodes or connections orBe it known that we, LUKE HARGREAVES through the covering of theconductor to such and WILLIAM STUBBS, subjects of the Queen conductor orto the junction of the anodes or of Great Britain, residing at Farnworthin connections with such conductor. In elec- 55 WVidnes, in the countyof Lancaster, England, trolytic cells which are worked at higher thanhave invented new and useful Improvements atmospheric temperature theoil or liquid .is in or Connected with Electrical Conductors preferably"one which is semisolid or nonand Anodes for Electrolytic andSimilarPurflowing at ordinary temperature, but which poses, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, becomes fluid at the normal working tem- 6oand exact description, reference being had to perature of theelectrolytic cell. We have the accompanying drawings, in whichfound thatresin-oil having dissolved therein Figures 1 and 2 are verticalsections, partly a proportion of resin gives good results in coninelevation at right angles to each other, of *nection with anodes used inelectrolyzing apparatus or appliances according to ourinbrine, as itbecomes nearly solid when cold, I 5 vention as applied to a verticalelectrolytic so that the anodes and connections may be cell. Fig. 3 is avertical section on the line carried about or stored without liabilityto A A on Fig. 5, Fig. 4 is a vertical section on loss of oil. Wepreferably use the oil or liqthe line B B on Fig. 5, and Fig. 5 is ahoriuid in a casing or receptable at such a head Zontal section at c con Fig. 3, all to an enor pressure that such oil or liquid tends to 2olarged scale, of aportion of aconductor, casdiffuse along the anodes orconnections or ing, anodes, and connections. Fig. 6 isa de through anycracks or pores in the casing or tail View of a modification of a carbonconreceptacle toward the electrolyte, thereby tact-block. Fig. 7 is asectional View of a counterbalancing the hydrostatic head or modifiedconstruction of appliance for vertipressure of the electrolyte or thecapillary at- 25 cal cells. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional tractionof the anodes or their connections view illustrative of our invention asapplied and preventing such electrolyte reaching the to horizontalelectrolytic cells. Fig. 9 is a conductor or junction of the anodes ortheir longitudinal sectional view of another modiconnections with theconductor. By this arfication for horizontal cells. Fig.10isasecrangement also any leakage through the cas- 8o 30 tional view ofafurther modification forhoriing can readily be detected by means of azontal cells. gage or other means of indicating head or The object ofthis invention is to provide pressure, and if such leakage is in comemeans whereby metallic or other electrical quence of the porosity of thecasing or miconductors and the junction of such conducnute crevicestherein we may add to the oil 35 tors with the anodes of carbon or otherinaor liquid plumbago or other suitable powdery terial or with theirconnections may be promaterial which will be carried into the porestected against any action of the current or of or crevices and fill themup. It is advisable the electrolyte which would tend to disintethat thespecific gravity of the oil or liquid grate or destroy such conductor ordestroy be as near as possible to that of the electro- 4o electricalcontactatthej unction of the anodes lyte, because by this means when thecasing or their connections with the conductor and to is immersed in theelectrolyte the tendency provide simple means for attaching anodes to ofsuch electrolyte to leak into the casing at conductors or making contacttherewith, so the bottom is counterbalanced without havthat such anodescan be easily removed and ing such an excess of head of oil as would un-45 replaced when worn. For these purposes we duly tend to force the oilout of the casing at interpose between the conductor and the electhetop. trolyte oil or liquid which is not miscible In some cases we mayuse the oil or liquid with the electrolyte or material saturated withoutany head or pressure, the superior with such oil or liquid in suchmanner that capillarity or diifusive power of the oil or liq- 0 such oilor liquid prevents access of the elecuid being sufficient to preventaccess of the trolyte, either by capillary attraction or othelectrolyteto the conductor or to the junctions of the anodes or their connectionswith such conductor or to displace the electrolyte from such anodes orconnections.

We make contact between the conductor, whether metallic or otherwise,and the anodes by means-of blocks of carbon or material not affected bythe electrolyte. The said blocks pass through the casing surrounding theconductor and are pressed against the conductor by bolts and nuts orequivalent devices. The anodes are secured to the said blocks by boltsor otherwise, as desired. The blocks may form part of the anodes, ifdesired. The securing-bolts are made of non-conducting material, or ifsuch bolts are metallic they are insulated by any convenient means, sothat they do not act as bearers of current or are not exposed to theaction of the electrolyte.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, a. is a metallic conductor formedin two parallel pieces and connected in any suitable way to one terminalof a dynamo or other source of electricity. b is a casing or receptaclemade of non-conductin g materiahpreferably Portland cement, whichsurrounds the conductor. 0 is a space between the conductor and thecasing, which space is filled with oil or other liquid or solutionnotemiscible with the electrolyte contained in the cell (1. The level ofthis oil or liquid is kept so much above that of the electrolyte thatthe hydrostatic pressure of such electrolyte and its tendency to diffusethrough the casing 1), carbon anodes e, and carbon blocksf iscounterbalanced by that of the oil, such electrolyte being therebypreventedfrom reaching the conductor a or the junction of the blocksfatf with the conductor. The diffusion of the oil through the blocks f doesnot impair the conductivity of such blocks. The carbon blocks may, ifdesired, be saturated with oil before being placed in position. Byemploying a float or the like in the oil any variation in the levelthereof caused by leakage through the easing or otherwise can readily bedetected. If it is desired to close the casing at the top, pressure maybe put on the oil by any desired means and a gage may be used forindicating such pressure. 6 represents anodes of carbon or othersuitable material in contact with the electrolyte. These anodes areconnected to the conductor a by blocks of carbon f. The blocks frest atone end against the anodes and at the other end against the conductor aor against washers 9, attached to such conductor. The washers g arepreferably of soft metal, so that the blocks fmay closely bed therein.71 represents bolts and nuts by means of which the anodes are pressedclosely against the blocksf and the blocksf against the conductor or thewashers 9, so that good electrical connection is made from the conductorto the anodes. The blocks f are cemented into the casing 19 by cement i.The bolts and nuts h are covered by .insulating material it to protectthem from the action of the electrolyte and also prevent them fromacting as bearers of electric current, which would tend to corrode them.The bolts and nuts maybe made of non-conducting material, if desired,and in such case will not need insulating. Also, if desired, separatebolts might be used for attaching the anodes to the blocks f and theblocks to the conductor. The blocks fmay, as shown in Fig. 6, be formedof a number of pencils of carbon] embedded in cement f m represents thecathodes connected to the other terminal of the dynamo.

Referring to Fig. 7, in this modification no oil is used around theconductor a, but such conductor is incased in impermeable materlal,

such as vulcanite h, which prevents access of f of the blocksfandwashers g is prevented.

In this modification the oil is used practically without any pressure.

Referring to Fig. 8, which shows a modification of our invention asapplied in connection with anodes for use in horizontal elec trolyticcells, 61 is the electrolytic cell of any convenient or well-known type.6 represents the carbon anodes affixed to the metallic conductors abycasting the conductors in the form of dished plates around the tops ofthe anodes or otherwise attached as desired. The conductors when castare preferably of lead and form casings or trays which contain oil Z.The pressure of the oil downward prevents the rising of the electrolyte(1 up the carbon anodes by capillary attraction, thereby preventing suchelectrolyte reaching the junctions f between the carbon anodes and theconductors a. The conductor-plates are supported on the tops of thecell-covers, as shown.

Referring to Fig. 9, in this modification the oil is used without anyhead or pressure as regards the junctions of the anodes and conductors.dis the electrolytic cell. brepresents i is cement or other convenient'Iro trays or casings of non-conducting material 7 which contain oilland which form the covers to the cells. a represents the conductors castaround the tops of the carbon anodes e and above the surface of the oilZ. The anodes pass through the bottoms of the casings I1 and areimmersed in the electrolyte cl, as shown. The oil by its superiordiffusive power or capillarity ascends the anodes to the cond,1 1Q-'tors a and prevents the electrolyte d ascending the anodes or reachingthe junctionsf of such anodes with the conductors.

Referring to Fig. 10, this shows another method of attaching theconductors to the anodes. Here each anode c has a separate tricity. Theaction of the oil in this modification is the same as described underFig. 9.

We do not confine ourselves to the particular details described, as itwill be obvious that various modifications may be made Without departingfrom the nature of our invention; but

WVhat we claim is 1. An electrolytic cell having an electrode, aconductor of different material connected thereto, a casing orreceptacle surrounding their juncture, and a fluid protective substancein the receptacle; substantially as described.

2. An electrolytic cell having an electrode and a conductor of differentmaterials joined together, and a casing or receptacle surround-

